Automobile wheel and axle.



C. H. WILLARD.

AUTOMOBILE WHEEL AND AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.11,1911.

1,034,378- Patented July 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT14 C. H. WILLARD.

AUTOMOBILE WHEEL AND AXLE.

APPLICATION rILED P21111, 1911.l

1,034,878.' Patented July 30,1912

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2A 1 Y .l @Il kfw ing is a specification.

UNTTED STATES PATENT onirica.

CHARLES HENRY WILLARD,-OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF gllEl-HALF TO DORA ROWLEY, 0F GILA B END, ARIZONA. l

AUTOMOBILE WHEEL AND AXLE.

T0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ciraiines H. Win- LAno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain nenT and useful Improvements in Automobile Wliecls and Axles, of which the followby the wheel may readily turn in relation to its axle, dust will beexcluded, easy assembly or taking apart of the parts may be had,

the wheel be permitted to turn to a relatively great angle in relation to its axle to permit quick and short turning of the automobile; and, further, to disposethe friction brakes in a new manner, whereby double' brakin power may be most advantageously applic g/to double the tractive surface and distribute all driving and brake power thereto; and still further, to connect 'the steering bars of the front and rear wheels of an automobile in a new manner, whereby all of the wheels may be simultaneously turned in relation to their axles with facility.

The invention is se't forth fully hereinafter and the novel features are recited .in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view of. an automobile chassis,

showing the present invention applied to all wheels thereof and the new connection between the 'steering bars; Fig. 2, a section on line 2-2 otFig. 4, looking' in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3,.a similar view looking in the opposite direction; Fig. 4, a longitlidinal section of one of the wheel hub and slide.

axle constructi Fig. 5, a detail view of the head on the end of the axle; and Fig. 6, a detail view of the guard or cap and dust The chassis 1 is preferably provided with cross me abers 2 for the convenient pivoting at 3 of a series of articulated levers 4, having slot. and pin connections, one of which is operatively. connected to the steering stem or head 5, the under levers of the series being pivoted to the steering barsb Afor the Specification of letters latent.

Application led February 11, 1911. Serial No. 607,996.

to automobile Patented July 30, 1912.

,the axles 10 a'nd 11 which have suitable difi ferential gears 12 in each instance and are provided with suitable ball bearings. On the ends of the axles 10 and 11, in each instance, there are substantially spherical heads or'balls 13 which are provided with equatoriallydisposed slots .or grooves 14 which widen at the ends and each of which extendsjlaterally as distinguished from for'- wardly and rearwardly, -being closed at both ends. The wheel hubs 15 and 1G are connected by bolts 17 so as to be separable, and in the outermost section there is a groove I 18. Each of the sections has a semispherical cup 19 which receives the sphere or ball end v 13 on the axle. p

Secured between the sections-of the hub are pins orvnembers 20 which are received in the grooves 14 and are preferably provided .with anti-friction rollers 21. Where the axle .passes through the innermost hub section, there is a suitably large aperture 22 to allow for lfree play'of the wheel up or down or at any desired angle laterally.

Secured to the axle hanger is a knuckle 23. Pivoted at 24 to the knuckle and received therein is a head or cap25 which has a lateral slot 28, through which the axle loosely passes` allowing the wheel to turn freely, but holding it firmly in vertical position. Ball bearings are preferably' interposed between lthe head or cap and the innermost hub section. The head or cap 25 is disposed a suitable distance away from 'the vertical parts of the'knuckle so as te permit free shifting of the said head or c'ap during the steering operation and for the accom modation of the friction brake disk 27 lwhich is secured tothe axle, one. of these brake disks being-,used on each of the an and the arrangement of the parts is sucli rlhe head or cap 25 has a lateral slot and is preferably provided with a removable lsection 29 to 'facilitate repairs and att-cn- Il. (l t:

tion to the ball bearings, and to secure the parts together there are provided detach able bolts 30 passing through ears. lOn the of the spherical ends on the axles and the hub construction are such that whatever the position of the wheel may be, the load is at all times at the center of the hub. The ends of the knuckle are received in the groove 18 and' are thus housed and protected. The entire wheel, spherical axle end and axle r'otate together, the hub and hence the wheel being adapted to assume different planes, due to the employment of the grooves 14 and the pins 20, so that the wheel accommodates itself to the surface over which itis traveling and also shifts as theautomobile is turning a curve, and these functions are possible atall times, regardless of the angle to which the hub and the cap or head has been turned b the steering bar. Any suitable strap bra e may be used in' conjunction with each brake disk 27, and by the employment 'of a. brake at or near the wheel, the braking etliciency is'greatly heightened, making for safety in o eration.

Having t us described my invention, what 35,. I claim as Vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automobile Awheel and axle, the

A combination with an axle hanger, of an axle mounted therein, a knuckle ,secured to the axle hanger, a cylindrical hub cap to which the knuckle is pivoted, a Wheel having a Arevoluble and pivotal connection with the axle and whose hub has a cylindrical part received in and having a rotatable connection with the cap, the cap being provided with a horizontal slot through which the axle passes and with horizontal guides lanking said slot, and a dust guard slidable horizontally in said guides and covering the slot aforesaid, said dust guard having an opening through which the axlerelatively tightly passes. l

2. In an automobile wheel and axle, the combination with an axle hanger, of an axle mounted therein, a knuckle secured to the axle hanger, a hub cap to which the knuckle is pivoted, a wheel having a revoluble and pivotal connection with the axle and whose hub has a rotatable connection with the cap, the cap having a horizontal slot through which the axle asses and which opens out through the per1phery of the cap, a removable filling member for closing the open end of the slot, horizontal guides on the cap flanking the slot, and a vertically sp'lit dust guard slidable horizontally in said guides and adapted to cover the slot, the dust guard l embracing the axle.

In testunony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

l (PIIARLES HENRY WILLARD. Witnesses:

H, G. SIMPSON.. 

